TURNER TWINS DERBY

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS 2 SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC 2

CMA PREMIER SOUTH AT THE FIELDINGS

16 APRIL 2024 --- 7.45PM

MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS V SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC TWIN BROTHERLY LOVE MARK AND DAVE TURNER

Luke Crosby hit a wonder goal in the third minute of stoppage time to level the scores and subsequently put a major dent in the title hopes of South Normanton Athletic who until this point still had the aspirations for top spot in their own hands.

Just occasionally games that receive a big billing actually produce the goods and this was one of those fixtures that warmed all on a chilly evening in Nottinghamshire.

JOSH SCULLY SET PIECES WOULD PROVE VITAL

The initial highlight of this fixture in the 23/24 season calendar was the pitting of wits of the two managers twin brothers Mark Turner of Mansfield Hosiery Mills and Dave of South Normanton Athletic.  But as the season has stuttered its way through rain interruption after rain interruption the visitors had found themselves with a collection of games to play to catch up on current leaders Pinxton but if they could win all of their remaining fixtures the result would be a guaranteed title.  With that in mind never mind the connections between the players on show this all added up to a must see game.

PRE MATCH WARM UP FOR ATHLETICS CHARLIE CLAYTON

More or less straight into the action then with no Coop or chippy visit with arrival just short of an hour before kick off to secure some photos in the light before match shots become impossible.  As ever a nice greeting from all at The Fieldings who were also welcoming a hopper from Selby for his first visit.

There was a good collection of the glitterati of the local non league scene and it was good to catch up with many of them.

Are you ready for some match action?  Hold onto your hats here goes. 

MILLS FRONT MAN MATT FOWLER

South Normanton started off in one of the strongest opening I have seen from them this season although they were looking to put behind them the 2-2 draw at Derby Singh Brothers on Saturday.  To that end Mills keeper Ryan Barson was alert to push over a free kick before Josh Parfitt placed a ball around the keeper but also inches wide of the post.

Mills were holding it together but were having to work as hard as and were limited to a George Simpson effort who having worked himself into a good position saw his shot blocked out by a visitors defender.  

As the game approached the half hour mark a sign of what was to come when Crosby latched onto a ball to crash an edge of the box effort off Charlie Clayton's crossbar.

MARK TURNER SEEKS MORE ENERGY

Just as it looked like half time would be reached with the scores level up stepped the silky delivery of Josh Scully with an in swinging corner that found Ryan Hadley rise salmon like to power home a header past defender and keeper on the line to break the deadlock, 37 minutes.  A wonderful goal that Mills had been aware of with the set piece delivery but it didn't stop them from going in behind at the break. 

SOUTH NOMRMANTON MANAGEMENT DAVE TURNER, KEV RENSHAW, LEE FLETCHER

Team talks completed and we were soon underway again and within four minutes Athletic doubled their advantage and again it was a set piece that undid the home defence.  Needless to say Scully on the free kick on the left delivered a sweet ball to the edge of the box Hadley, again, rose and headed down for the stretching Parfitt who diverted the ball past Barson.  At this stage there was a chance of me thinking it was now game over but once again how football can prove you wrong.

PAUL HUTCHINSON ON THE HUNT TO SEE IF HE CAN POSSIBLY CARRY ANYTHING ELSE

The visitors were looking to turn the screw now and with Ty Macaskill a constant danger they had to be on their guard to not lose any chance of a recovery in the remaining minutes.  Indeed Reece Shaw went close cutting inside and fired just over as the visitors confidence looked sky high.

Mills were now trying frantically to get a foothold back in the game and there were some edgy challenges going in a foul on the edge of the home box saw Tom Torrington become the second Mills player cautioned alongside Luke Smithson but more importantly that man Scully would be on duty again.  As is expected when the South Normanton number 9 steps up its normally good and this time his strike was well pushed over by Barson to keep the comeback achievable for Mansfield.

MILLS MANAGEMENT TEAM MARK TURNER AND PAUL HUTCHINSON

Mills captain Tom Suter who once again put in a man of the match performance at the back overstretched on the half way line and he saw yellow as the dug out hugging Athletic crowd were baying for a red card.

Mills were still under threat but their defensive resolve was still strong and it took three defenders to block out a patient Parfitt who with the ball at his feet was hunting down a shooting chance, but the men in blue were not allowing it and gradually worked the ball away to safety, 62 minutes.  

REFEREE GARY SLATER LEADS OUT THE TEAMS

Slowly but surely Mills got themselves back into the game and on 68 minutes they were most definitely back in contention when The Shiners failed to clear close in and Suter forced the ball over the line and this was now game on.  You could see the confidence it gave the home side and the doubts started to show in the Normanton side who had hung onto a lead against Arnold the last time I had seen them and then on Saturday succumbed to a 2-2 against Derby Singh Brothers.

LUKE CROSBY SOON TO PLAY A DECISIVE PART IN THIS GAME

With ten minutes to go and during a substitution there was a coming together around the dug out area with supporters gathered by it.  Referere Gary Slater calmly dealt with the incident but it took over five minutes to reduce the tension.

With four minutes remaining Clayton denied Mills an equaliser but he couldn't do the same in the third minute of stoppage time.  A half way line free kick was launched forward by Torrington and with the ball taken down on the right edge of the box it was fed across to Crosby who with his back to goal turned and made space before unleashing a superb 20 yard shot that flew into the Normanton goal to remarkably level the scores.

MATT FOWLER MOVES FORWARD

We were to see eleven minutes of stoppage time and either side could have still secured a victory once again home keeper Barson who had a superb game with some great saves and safe handling was there to palm away off the head of Sam Allcock.

But the moment of saving South Normanton from drawing a points blank in this game came in the 99th minute when keeper Clayton managed to pull off a low full length save as Mills so nearly won it at the end.

On the final whistle of referee Slater Mills were elated and the Athletic players looked shattered and with a few dropping to the floor they knew the importance of this result to their season, there is though still a way to go and there yet may be more twists and turns.

JOSH PARFITT TO SECURE THE SOUTH NORMANTON SECOND GOAL

The draw was probably a fair result it allowed twin brotherly love to remain intact but ultimately the game for the Dave variety and South Normanton it was the dropping of two points that will hurt as they now have to rely on Pinxton failing to gain maximum points.  But with Derby Singh Brothers the Wharf Lane sides hosts on Saturday who knows and whisper it quietly Mansfield Hosiery Mills the visitors next week Dave may not be too unhappy to see his brother win this one. 

Mills have games in hand to finish in a top half of the table position and the aim for the Mark variety is not to see his team drift away from this big match performance in achieving that aim.

Performance wise South Normanton looked good for large parts of this game with Ty Macaskill a constant threat added to this the presence of Hadley and undoubtedly the skill of Scully they performed well as a unit but tonight came up against a side who fought hard to match them and in the closing stages probably looked the most likely to get over the line.  The home sides defence held strong with Suter, as previously mentioned, oustanding, Torrington is a revelation since moving to the back, keeper Barson had a great night and up front Matt Fowler and Crosby complement one another to create a threat to any defence.

BROTHERLY ACTION IN THE DUG OUTS

Wow probably the match I have enjoyed the most this season with thanks to both sets of players for providing a game of full commitment and some superb goals and with the South Normanton home game against Mills scheduled for 9 May can you afford not to be there?

LUKE GREAVES PREPARES TO CROSS